Temperature controlled food transport containers suitable for limited power capacity vehicles

ABSTRACT

The container has a specific construction for low weight with low thermal loss by combining the use of certain polymer insulation with the use of air space between internal structures. The container contains a single or multiple heaters or coolers that can be integrated as a single heating and cooling element, and either integrated into a single container, or in separate containers. The heating or cooling is accomplished by attaching to an internal thermal conducting, e.g. metal, structure either heating or cooling thermal conducting elements or internal thermal heat exchangers with a fan that circulates air over the thermal heat exchanger and heats or cools the air directly. An intelligent power management electronic controls management system is used to result in food delivery containers suitable for power, limited lower capacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters. The present invention provides the power for these hot and cold boxes by either modifying the existing alternator to increase the power available from a limited power low capacity motorcycle or similar vehicle or relying on one or more auxiliary alternators added to and driven by the limited power and low capacity vehicle. Further, an additional heat source can be used from the engine or exhaust and the heat can be transferred to the heated container by liquid, gas, or thermal conduction means, to reduce the electrical energy required for limited power low capacity vehicles.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/515,923, filed Oct. 29, 2004, which application is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety and from which priorityis hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. Sections 119(e) and 120.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers for transporting and deliveringprepared foods and particularly to heated or cooled containers formaintaining food at a desired temperature and quality during transportand delivery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various configurations of containers and bags have been constructed fortransport and delivery of prepared foods, including various devices forkeeping the food warm or cold during transit and deriving their powerfrom a vehicle electric system. However, prior container devices havebeen inadequate or unacceptable for limited power vehicles, e.g., lowercapacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters, because of thelimited available power. In all previous embodiments of heated or cooledfood containers for transportation, no allowance has been made for thetype of vehicle the food transport container is being used on. Examplesof prior food delivery containers include those described and claimed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,806,736 to Schirico; U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,646 to Solomon,et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,626 to Fiddler; and PCT Patent ApplicationWP 00/50307 to Remke. The disclosures of these patents are incorporatedherein by reference.

There is a need for a mechanical thermally efficient container to reducethermal leakage and power required for the heated or cooled container.The heating and cooling elements can be either integrated in onecontainer or in separate containers. Also needed is an intelligent powermanagement system for heated or cooled temperature controlled fooddelivery containers that consumes minimum power and also manages thepower in a particular pattern. This not only controls the temperaturebut does this depending upon the characteristics of the vehicle the foodcontainer is attached to. In addition, it also considers operatingconditions, such as the running conditions of the vehicle, the state ofbattery charge of the vehicle, and whether the containers are empty orfull. These conditions change over use and running time so that thepower management system incorporates these conditions and works to a setof computer software algorithms that regulates the power so that thetemperature controlled food containers are suitable for power limited,lower capacity vehicles. Also, no thought has been given in prior artdevices to controlling particular aspects of the environment inside thecontainers for controlling and maintaining the quality of particularfoods, e.g., the crispness of fried foods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In contrast to the prior art devices, the present invention provides afood delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacityvehicle having a thermally insulated outer structure, an internalstructure of a thermally conductive material, temperature-control meansfor maintaining a preset temperature within the internal structure, atemperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the internalstructure, energy means attached to the vehicle for supplying energy tothe container, and energy management means operably connected to thetemperature-control means and to the energy means for channeling theenergy required to operate the temperature-control means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily appreciated by reference to thefollowing detailed description, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container of one embodiment of thepresent invention showing the electrical configuration for a thermalconductor;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a container of another embodiment ofthe present invention showing the electrical configuration for a thermalheat exchanger;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container of still another embodimentof the present invention showing use of electrical and mechanical heatsources;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container of still another embodimentof the present invention showing a cooled container configuration with aheat sink;

FIG. 4(A) is a view showing examples of modifications to an originalalternator on a vehicle to provide an increased energy source for thecontainer of the present invention;

FIG. 4(B) is a plan view showing an example of using at least oneadditional auxiliary alternator on a vehicle to provide an increasedenergy source for the container of the present invention;

FIG. 4(C) is a view of cold and hot boxes of the present inventionmounted on a motorcycle; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of a modified prior art alternatorshowing an example of providing alternating current output for heatersand direct current output for the cooling for the containers of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a food delivery container with a specificconstruction for low weight with low thermal loss, and containingmultiple heater and/or cooler elements, either integrated into a singlecontainer, or in separate containers. Additional elements have beenadded for controlling the quality of the food therein by usingintelligent power management electronic controls, which results in fooddelivery containers suitable for limited power capacity vehicles such asmotorcycles or scooters. This invention achieves such results bycombining certain polymer insulation and air space structures, withmultiple heating and/or cooling elements or devices, particular foodquality controlling devices, with certain power management electroniccontrols and the optional addition of one or more alternators.

The combination in its most basic form comprises multiple heating andcooling elements in a single food delivery container, or multipleheating and cooling elements in separate containers. The container orseparate containers consist of an insulating structure of polymersselected for specific strength and thermal insulating characteristics.It also consists of specific air spaces to separate the high temperatureelements from the polymers for safety reasons, and heat insulation andmechanical structure polymers to add to the high temperature insulationproperties. An internal metal heat conduction structure has also beenadded, wherein at least one internal surface of the metal structurethereof, a side wall, top or bottom with welded joints or seams isprovided to facilitate heat conduction.

FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of a heating container of the presentinvention having an internal metal heat conductor structure 1 that isenclosed within an intermediate internal structure 3 consisting of apolymer insulating material. Structures 1 and 3 are in turn housedwithin external polymer enclosure 4. Air spaces 5 are provided betweeninternal structure 1 and intermediate structure 3. An intelligent powermanagement and control system 6 is attached to the exterior wall ofinternal structure 1. A temperature sensor 7 is attached to the exteriorsurface of internal structure 1 and is connected by a lead to controlsystem 6. Multiple thermal conducting heating elements 8 are attached tothe inner surface of the walls of internal structure 1. An on/off switch9 for the temperature control is operably connected to control system 6and is attached to front flange 18 of internal structure 1. Front flange18 also functions to provide the depth of air spaces 5. Power input 10from the electrical system described below is operably connected tocontrol system 6. Food quality system 11 described below is operablyconnected to control system 6 and attached within the interior ofinternal structure 1. A lid 14 is mounted by means of a hinge (notshown) over open end 15 of external enclosure 4.

The preferred embodiment comprises at least two sides of metal heatconductors preferably having welded joints or seams 2 and with multipleelectrical heating or cooling elements attached as shown in FIG. 2. Gasor liquid conducting heat sources 13 supply alternative heat to thecontainers as described in detail below. The complete assembly may besupplied with power from an additional alternator in an alternativeembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4(B), driven by a particularratio to optimize the alternator's performance from the main vehicleengine.

Also, specific devices are contained within the food containers, such asa fan structure that is erected over the food, which is specificallydesigned to circulate hot air over and through the food to drive offmoisture from the surface of the food, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

FIG. 1(B) shows another embodiment of a heating container of the presentinvention having an internal metal heat conductor structure 1 that isenclosed within intermediate internal structure 3 and external polymerenclosure 4 as described above in connection with FIG. 1(A). The foodquality system in this embodiment comprises a combination of fans and aheat exchanger 12 mounted within internal structure 1. In addition,removable meshed packaging 16 is shown removed from internal structure1. For example, fried foods, such as French fries, need their surfacecrispness to be maintained and hence retain the quality of the food onbeing transported in the container as shown in FIG. 1(B).

In addition, the temperature and power management electronic controlscan be housed internally or externally of the food container or separatecontainers. In the preferred embodiment, electronic controls 6 areattached to internal metal frame 1 for simplicity of temperature sensingand overall construction, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B). Temperatureselection switches and operational indicators 9, comprising eitherdisplays, lamps, or audio indicators, can also be mounted in the samefashion within the food container to internal metal frame 1 as shown inFIGS. 1(A) and 1(B). In the preferred embodiment, these elements areattached to internal metal heat conducting structure 1 for ease ofassembly and manufacture, and to be accessible when lid 14 of thecontainer is open.

For the container itself, each of these basic polymer structuralelements, e.g., external polymer enclosure 4 and intermediate internalstructure 3, can have various properties or characteristics, asdisclosed herein. Additional layers, elements, components or materials,including air spaces other than air spaces 5, also can be used toseparate the high temperature elements from contact with the insulatingpolymers, and can be incorporated with the basic polymer constructionelements to enhance desired performance parameters of the food transportcontainer of this invention. This aspect of the present invention can beutilized in any multi-surfaced container, either as a simple cube orrectangular shaped food transport container, a cylinder shapedcontainer, or any other shape. According to the present invention, theuse of polymers allows any variety of complex molded food containershapes to be used.

In the heating aspect of the invention, thermal conducting heatingelements 8 can consist of various resistive elements, such as resistancewire or a foil heater, or separate resistors attached and heat sunk tothe internal heat conducting metal structure. In the preferredembodiment, multiple heating elements are used that present a maximummultiple high overall area for efficient heat transfer from theresistive heating elements to the internal metal heat dissipatingstructure, to provide rapid heating with minimum power requirements. Tothis end, multiple special heating elements have been designed that areflat resistive wire elements that present a large heat transfer area tothe internal metal structure, particularly when a number of them aremounted on the internal metal structure.

In the cooling aspect of the invention, the various cooling elements arealso attached and thermally coupled for efficient heat transfer tointernal heat conducting metal structure 1, as seen in FIG. 3. Thisdesign is specifically aimed at reducing the hot spot heatingcharacteristics of the heating elements, or the cold spot coolingcharacteristics of the cooling elements. The metal structure isspecifically designed with the position of the heating and coolingelements in the preferred embodiment, such that convection circulationis sufficient to heat or cool the complete food container box. A fan isnot necessary in many cases, but this invention does not preclude theuse of a fan, internal or external to the box, to circulate the hot orcold air from the heat or cold conducting internal metal structure.

In the preferred embodiment, the cooling for the cold container or boxof this invention uses a large efficient finned heat sink assembled frommultiple tooled elements, and has been designed to dissipate the heatfrom the cooling devices, e.g., fan and heat exchanger 12 shown in FIG.3. This large finned heat sink is specifically designed to takeadvantage of the natural air flow from the moving vehicle with air scoop15 designed to direct the air flow from the moving vehicle so that acooling fan is not necessary for lower power requirements andreliability in a small vehicle, but this invention does not preclude theuse of an external fan to cool the heat sink for the cooling elements.However, as this invention provides, the combination of such multipleheating or cooling elements efficiently thermally coupled to internalmetal heat conducting structure 1, and positioned deliberately togenerate efficient convection heating or cooling of the air throughoutthe food container, comprises a device where an external or internal fanis not necessary.

The power to these heating or cooling elements, including any internalor external fan, is controlled by electronic power management controls6. Electronic controls 6 are typically an assembly of components mountedon a printed circuit board with wires and connectors, i.e., power inputfrom electrical system 10 shown in FIGS. 1(A), 1(B), 2, and 3. System 10allows the inputs, outputs, indicators, and electrical supply to beconnected for operation of the hot and cold boxes of this invention; thedetail of which will be further described below.

The printed circuit board of controls 6 also typically contains amicrocomputer chip that has imbedded computer software that containsoperational parameters and algorithms. This allows the microcomputerchip to accept specific inputs, and drive specific outputs such as theheating and cooling elements, including indicators both visual andaudible, according to prescribed control algorithms, all aimed atintelligent power management as described in this invention. The printedcircuit board can be positioned internally or externally to the foodcontainer. Not only is the internal temperature of the food containercontrolled, but also the power used by the heating or cooling elementsis managed and regulated by electronic power management controls 6according to the use and running conditions of the vehicle. The runningcondition parameters of the vehicle may include whether it is stoppedand idling or running at high speed, the status of the battery, if thebattery is supplying the electrical power to the food container, andwhether the container is full or empty of food or other packages.

Further, the outer container in which internal metal heat or coldconducting structure 1 and associated heating or cooling elements arepositioned consists of various polymer materials. These are selected fortheir high thermal insulating characteristics. Air spaces are providednot only for insulation but to separate the insulating polymer materialsfrom high temperature elements. This has been done for safety, and toprovide mechanical properties that produce a strong container of lowweight and high thermal insulating properties. The high thermalinsulation characteristics of the container are essential to thereduction in the power required to heat or cool the container, and thelow weight also helps when the container of this invention is used onlower capacity transportation vehicles. This combination ofcharacteristics makes these temperature controlled heated and cooledsingle food containers or separate heated or cooled containers, suitablefor smaller vehicles that have limited power capacity, such asmotorcycles, scooters or smaller transportation vehicles.

The above basic combination of materials and elements are utilized toconstruct any desired food transport container or multiple containers ofthis invention, depending on the performance needed in a particularsituation. The mechanical construction of these containers is based uponthe use of specific polymer materials which are selected for highmechanical strength and others for high thermal insulation properties.This combination generates a multi-polymer container that exhibits lowweight with high mechanical strength and further, high thermalinsulation, and is light and easy to mold in various forms and colors.These containers basically consist of a strong inner and outer structureof such thin strong polymer materials or combinations, such asfiberglass, polyurethane, polyurea, polystyrene, or any polymercombination that generates a thin, mechanically strong, double walledcontainer that can safely accept high or low temperatures on the insideadjacent to the heating and cooling elements, and be durable and strongon the outside for durability.

The space between the inner and outer walls can be filled with amaterial, preferably an expanded polymer or insulating material, such asexpanded polystyrene, polyfoam, glass fiber, or any other materials thathave high thermal insulation properties, including air spaces that alsonot only add insulation, but also separated the high temperatureelements from the polymer materials for safety. The above double wallconstruction can be enhanced with additional layers of insulationmaterial, or layers of heat reflecting metal foil, including air spaces5 described above in connection with FIGS. 1(A), 1(B) and 2, that areall enclosed in a desired casing, but ultimately creating a containerconsisting of materials of low weight with high mechanical strength.This has been done to ensure strong inner and outer walls that can alsoaccept high and low temperature extremes and exhibit durability, andenclosing materials selected for high thermal insulation, and, as willbe apparent, constructed with conventional closures, carry handles orstraps, pockets, logos or advertising, and the like.

These containers can be an integrated single container that canselectively provide either heating or cooling of its contents, orseparate containers that only provide heating or cooling. In thedescription below, even though the integrated heating and coolingcontainer is described, any one schooled in the art can easily apply thedescribed heating and cooling elements to separate heated and cooledcontainers. In the integrated single container embodiment, the internalmultiple heating and cooling elements are positioned on at least twosides of internal metal heat conducting structure 1 of the containers.Preferably, the heating elements are positioned along the bottom oradjacent to the bottom as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 2, and the coolingelements are positioned along the top of heat conducting metal structure1.

The combination of the heat conducting metal internal structure and thedeliberate positioning of the multiple heating and cooling elements onthe heat conducting metal structure, allows the flow of air byconvection to flow from bottom to top for the heating embodiment, andfrom top to bottom for the cooling embodiment. By careful positioning ofthe heating and cooling elements in combination with the heat conductinginternal metal structure, it is possible to enhance the heating andcooling of the complete food container by efficient convection, andhence does not require the use of an additional electrical fan. Anelectrical fan can be used to move the heated or cooled air throughoutthe container, but that increases power consumption, decreasesreliability, and adds to the mechanical complexity. This is the casebecause the fan motor, due to the temperature extremes internal to thecontainer, may have to be positioned external to the container. However,an electrical fan can still be used according to the present invention,and a low power fan can be positioned internal or external to thecontainer, and is controlled by power management system 6 for minimumpower and used to circulate the air and help regulate the temperatureinside the container.

If an air moving device is necessary, a part of this invention is theuse of any mechanical air moving structure, incorporated internal to thecontainer, that uses the inherent movement and vibration associated withthe moving of the transport vehicle. Particularly in the case ofmotorcycles or scooters, or any smaller vehicles, various forms ofmechanical air moving devices can be incorporated within the container,to enhance the movement of air internal to the container that can usethe inherent mechanical energy of the vehicle as it moves. This wouldallow a high reliability air movement device that works off themechanical movement and vibration of the vehicle, and does not need anyadditional electrical energy input from the vehicle electrical system,but enhances the air movement around the container's internal volume.

A first example of a mechanical air moving structure for use in thecontainer according to the present invention comprises a moving weightconfigured as a rigid pendulum. On the axis of the pendulum, moving withthe pendulum is a single vane fan. Acceleration and deceleration,including turning of the vehicle, will result in oscillation of thependulum and hence of the fan. This is particularly effective in urbanareas where the vehicle speed changes frequently. A second example of amechanical air moving structure comprises a moving weight attached to aspring mechanism. Depending on orientation, vertical movement of thevehicle, such as that caused by potholes or unevenness in the roadsurface, or horizontal acceleration as in the pendulum embodiment, willcause the weight and spring to oscillate. A conventional arrangement oflevers translates the movement of the weight into movement of a fan.

Since the amount of available power from the transportation vehicle islimited, intelligent power management electronic control system 6 thataccepts specific inputs and controls specific outputs is an importantaspect of this invention. System 6 can be implemented in variousembodiments, but basically it is an electronic controller that, at itsinputs, detects specific operational parameters from sensors andswitches. These operating parameters could include: the internaltemperature of the container; user selected temperatures; batteryvoltage for a status on battery charge; battery ripple voltage to detectthe running operation of the vehicle's motor as related to thealternator frequency, hence RPM of the vehicle motor, if only DC powerfrom the battery is used; and, if a direct connection to the alternatoris used, parameters such as the alternator voltage and alternatorfrequency. Additional operational control input parameters can also bedetected by system 6, such as an empty or full container.

Electronic power management system 6 also controls such outputs asheating and cooling power control, and indicator lamps or displaysand/or audio outputs to show operational status, including: selectedtemperatures; actual container temperatures; heating or cooling cycles;and fault conditions, such as non-operating heating or cooling elements,low battery, fan operation if applicable, and also open or shortedconnections. The intelligent power management system 6 is designed toenhance reduced power consumption, heating or cooling operation cycles,and incorporate operational algorithms such as power being interchangedor alternated between the heating and cooling elements, to reduce totalpower being taken from the vehicle's electrical system. Also, whilechecking temperatures and making the decisions based upon prescribedtemperature or operational limits in the heating and cooling containers,operational decisions are made, such as turning off the heating orcooling elements when the alternator cannot supply sufficient power,such as when the motor is at low speed, idling, or stopped, to protectbattery discharge for lights or starting. Alternatively, when increasedpower is available, such as at high motor speed, operational decisionsmay include an increased heating or cooling boost. This can be done bysetting a particular temperature fall below the set temperature for whenpower is available, that a boost heating or cooling can take place byswitching in additional heating or cooling elements, or increasingvoltage and current by some means, but the desired effect is to managethe limited power available from the vehicle. Also, this can be underthe conditions of limited power that the intelligent power managementsystem cuts off the heaters to conserve available power so that thepriority for power is given to the cold elements to protect the coldtemperatures and the food within. Then, when sufficient power isavailable, the intelligent power management system can drive thetemperatures back to the preset temperatures by adding in the boostconfiguration as described above. Any of these configurations can beadded in a conventional way to the control algorithms in the software ofthe intelligent power management controller, the intent of which is tointelligently manage power that is limited in lower capacity vehicles.

User desired temperature settings can be preset by using dials orpushbuttons, or by rotary motion to provide a continuous rotary range oftemperatures. However, in the preferred embodiment, a number of presettemperatures can be selected by a series of push-buttons, or by amulti-position rotary switch mounted on internal metal heat conductingstructure 1, and accessible when container door 14 is open to insert orremove the prepared food. Also, in the case where an empty container isdetected, for example, by such sensors as weight detection or ultrasonicresonance detectors, or a manual rider operated switch, the electroniccontroller can turn off the heating or cooling power as it is notnecessary, so power is conserved and the battery can be returned to afull charge.

The above examples show some but not all of the many examples of theinput and output possibilities for the electronic power managementcontrol system 6 and are not intended to limit the present invention.The invention can use various combinations or additional system and userequirements, but it illustrates clearly for any one skilled in the art,to create various operational combinations or additional systemparameters or operational requirements to enable the power managementsystem to minimize the power usage from the vehicle electrical system,protect the vehicle electrical system, and also show the status of thesystem and operation by display or audio means, and also show anyfailure status of the system or elements, or various combinations of anyenhancements of the system and operation, which is the basis of thisinvention.

Since limited capacity vehicles, such as motorcycles and scooters, havelimited power available from their electrical system due to the lowpower alternator, the present invention alternately provides the powerfor these hot and cold boxes by either (a) modifying the existingalternator to increase the power available from a limited power capacitymotorcycle or similar vehicle as shown in FIG. 4(A) or (b) the additionof one or more additional alternators that can be driven off thevehicle's motor through a variable drive system or a fixed ratio drivesystem that increases the ratio of drive, to thereby increase the poweravailable for the additional alternator, as shown in FIG. 4(B).

FIG. 4(A) shows modifying rotor 30 of the alternator by increasing thestrength of the magnets and stator 33 of the alternator by increasingthe core area and number of windings.

FIG. 4(B) shows that one or more auxiliary additional alternators 40 canbe added to a standard motorcycle or scooter, for supplying theadditional power necessary for the heated and cooled transportcontainer. The coupling of the additional alternator through a variabledrive system, or driven directly from the engine, as shown in FIG. 4(B),is designed to optimize the power output of the additional alternatorfor the operating conditions of the transport vehicle. The additionalalternator can be alternatively driven by a separate motor so that themotorcycle is unmodified and the additional structure of the alternatorand engine is added as a separate complete subsystem to the motorcycle.

The electrical power in the vehicle system can come directly from thealternator as an alternating voltage (AC), or as rectified directvoltage (DC), or from the battery as a DC voltage. Various combinationsof heating and cooling elements and devices can use AC or DC electricalpower, and even though some examples are shown here, any one schooled inthe art can clearly see that some combination of heating and coolingelements and devices can be used with either AC or DC voltage power fromthe vehicle's electrical system. Using the AC voltage directly from thealternator can allow much more efficient power use, in the range of 15%to 20% of the electrical power generated, since the DC from thealternator needs to be rectified through the alternator's rectifiers.This is also true in the use of a battery, since power from thealternator needs to be rectified and regulated to charge the battery.However, it is true that some heating, cooling, temperature sensing, andpower control devices can only use DC, e.g., Peltier devices, diodetemperature sensors, relays, and semiconductor power control devices,whereas heating, cooling, temperature sensing, and power control devicescan only use AC, e.g., resistive heating devices, thermostats, and relayand triac power control devices. So even though this invention showssome of these embodiments in the use of a combination of heating,cooling, sensing and power control devices using a combination of AC andDC sources from the vehicle electrical system such as alternator andbattery, it is clear to anyone schooled in the art, after seeing theseexamples, that further combinations can easily be designed based uponthis invention as shown. Also, there can be advantages in specificcombinations in the use of the AC and DC electrical power sourcesavailable from the vehicle's electrical power system.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the heating elements are separatelypowered from the AC source directly from alternator 60, with the coolingelements run from the DC power, so that the available DC power fromrectifiers 62 or a battery is conserved, since the power from thealternator and battery capacity in smaller vehicles is limited.

In another combination, when the motor is running at high speed, fullheating power is available, and when the motor is idling or stopped, ACpower from the alternator is lowered significantly, so that the heaterpower is reduced accordingly. So there are a number of combinations inthe use of AC and DC sources that are designed to conserve and reducepower as covered in this invention with the use of the AC and DC sourcesavailable from the vehicle electrical system. In the preferredembodiment, the output from the alternator can be controlled byelectronic control system 6 by the control of the field current to thealternator so that its output power can be controlled by the fieldcurrent depending on the intelligent control system and status of thetemperatures and running conditions, as explained previously. This thenoptimizes the efficiency and power requirements of the system as thepower output and torque requirements, and hence power taken from thetransport vehicle's main motor is minimized and the alternatorcontrolled in this fashion simply becomes a mechanical-to-electricalconverter. The power output of this example is only controlled by theintelligent control system to thereby optimize the use of power providedby the transport vehicle. The combinations that are covered by thisinvention are not limited to the examples described above, and othercombinations are within the scope of this invention.

Another method to reduce the electrical power load on the vehicle is theuse of hot exhaust system or circulating motor oil as a heat source,with the heat conducted by air, liquid or metal conducting systems, tothe insulated box to be heated. As described above, electronic control 6can also control a fan that will blow circulating air over the hotexchanger in the box, and by varying the speed of the fan, thetemperature of the box can be controlled. Therefore, the heat energyneed not come solely from the electrical energy of the vehicle but canbe augmented partially or wholly by heat conducted and electronicallycontrolled by the speed of a fan within the box to be heated, oradditional electrical energy to add to the heat extracted from thevehicle's hot exhaust system or oil system by various means.

FIG. 4(C) shows cold box 46 and hot box 48 of the present inventionmounted on a motorcycle 50 in which the airflow can provide auxiliarycooling for cold box 46, the heat from the exhaust in pipe 52 onmotorcycle 50 passes through a pipe 54 and can provide the auxiliaryheat for hot box 48, and motor-generator 56 can provide the remainingenergy requirements for the hot and cold boxes.

Various changes and modifications of the containers of the presentinvention in addition to those shown and described above will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description andaccompanying drawings. As such, these changes and modifications areproperly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range ofequivalents of the following claims.

1. A food delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacityvehicle comprising: a thermally insulated outer structure, an internalstructure of a thermally conductive material, temperature-control meansfor maintaining a preset temperature within the internal structure,temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the internalstructure, energy means attached to the vehicle for supplying energy tothe container, and energy management means operably connected to thetemperature-control means and to the energy means for channeling theenergy required to operate the temperature-control means.
 2. The fooddelivery container of claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means isa heating element attached to the internal structure for heating theinternal structure by thermal conduction.
 3. The food delivery containerof claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means is a cooling elementattached to the internal structure for cooling the internal structure bythermal conduction.
 4. The food delivery container of claim 1, whereinthe temperature-control means are heating and cooling elements attachedto the internal structure for heating and cooling the internal structureby thermal conduction.
 5. The food delivery container of claim 1,wherein the temperature-control means is a thermal heat exchangerattached to the internal structure and circulating means for circulatinghot or cold air over the heat exchanger into the internal structure. 6.The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the circulating means isa fan.
 7. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein thecirculating means is the airflow from a moving vehicle.
 8. The fooddelivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energymeans is electrical energy from an alternator driven by an engine of thevehicle.
 9. The food delivery container of claim 8, wherein thealternator is modified for output greater than required for the vehicle.10. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy suppliedby the energy means is electrical energy from at least one additionalalternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.
 11. The food deliverycontainer of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means iselectrical energy from a motor-generator.
 12. The food deliverycontainer of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means iselectrical energy from alternating current generated by alternatorwindings of an alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.
 13. Thefood delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by theenergy means is electrical energy from direct current (DC) generated bya DC rectifier of an alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle. 14.The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied bythe energy means is electrical energy from direct current (DC) generatedby a battery attached to the vehicle.
 15. The food delivery container ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energymeans is heat energy from an engine of the vehicle.
 16. The fooddelivery container of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the energysupplied by the energy means is heat energy from an engine of thevehicle.
 17. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the thermalheat exchangers are heated by heat energy from an engine of the vehicle.18. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein at least a portionof the energy supplied by the energy means is heat energy from anexhaust system of the vehicle.
 19. The food delivery container of claim5, wherein the thermal heat exchangers are heated by heat energy from anexhaust system of the vehicle.
 20. The food delivery container of claim2, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy meansis heat energy from an exhaust system of the vehicle.
 21. The fooddelivery container of claim 2, wherein a thermally insulatingintermediate structure is positioned between the outer structure and theinternal structure.
 22. The food delivery container of claim 21, whereinthe thermally insulating outer structure and intermediate structure areof a polymeric material, the internal structure is of a metallicmaterial and air space is provided between the metallic internalstructure and the polymeric intermediate structure.
 23. The fooddelivery container of claim 22, wherein the polymeric outer structurehas a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end, an open end,and a lid defining the open end that moves from an open to a closedposition and the polymeric intermediate structure and the internalstructure each has a similar configuration to that of the outerstructure with a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end andan open end aligned with the open end of the outer structure.
 24. Thefood delivery container of claim 23, wherein the energy management meansis attached to one of the side walls of the metallic internal structure,the temperature-control means is positioned within the metallic internalstructure, and the temperature sensor is attached to one of the walls ofthe metallic internal structure.
 25. The food delivery container ofclaim 24, wherein a plurality of heating elements are positioned on theinterior side walls and the exterior side walls of the metallic internalstructure.
 26. The food delivery container of claim 24, whereinremovable packaging having openings to allow the passage of air overfood is positioned within the metallic internal structure.
 27. The fooddelivery container of claim 3, wherein the polymeric outer structure hasa open top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, end, and a lid defining theopen top that moves from an open to a closed position and the internalstructure has a similar configuration to that of the outer structurewith a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end and an open endaligned with the open top of the outer structure.
 28. The food deliverycontainer of claim 27, wherein the energy management means andtemperature-control means are attached to one of the side walls of themetallic internal structure, and the temperature sensor is attached toone of the walls of the metallic internal structure.
 29. The fooddelivery container of claim 27, wherein the temperature-control means isa thermal heat exchanger attached to the internal structure andcirculating means for circulating hot or cold air over the heatexchanger into the internal structure.
 30. The food delivery containerof claim 29, wherein the circulating means is a fan.
 31. The fooddelivery container of claim 29, wherein the circulating means is theairflow from a moving vehicle.
 32. The food delivery container of claim31, wherein one of the side walls has an air scoop having on open endfacing the moving vehicle's direction of travel to provide the airflowfor the circulating means.
 33. The food delivery container of claim 29,wherein removable packaging having openings to allow the passage of airover food is positioned within the metallic internal structure.
 34. Afood delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacityvehicle comprising: a thermally insulated outer structure, an internalstructure of a thermally conductive material, removable packaging havingopenings to allow the passage of air over food within the internalstructure, temperature-control means for maintaining a presettemperature within the internal structure, temperature sensor formeasuring the temperature within the internal structure, energy meansfor supplying energy attached to the vehicle, and energy managementmeans operably connected to the temperature-control means and to theenergy means for channeling at least a portion of the energy to operatethe temperature-control means.
 35. The food delivery container of claim34, wherein the temperature-control means is a thermal heat exchangerattached to the internal structure and a fan for blowing hot or cold airover the heat exchanger through the packaging within the internalstructure.